“A square with a view – Renewing the self-image of a square” by Collectif MASI

The Collectif MASI (Madlen Anipsitaki and Simon Riedler) with the artists Melissanthi Spei and Georges Salameh, present the works they created during the second cycle of the Station One AIR 2021 residency for emerging artists. The artwork of Collectif MASI “A square with a view – Renewing the self-image of a square” will be in Victoria Square from November 26 until December 3, 2021.

The statue “Theseus saving Hippodamia” breaks its silence! Ιt speaks about its life, its roots and its movements, the bullets that it took, its thoughts about the people of the square. Through paintings and spatial installations, we create a counter-monument, challenging the existing one to revisit its myth in the light of Victoria Square’s contemporary reality. There we set up an open-air exhibition, which consists of paintings on sheets hung from balconies surrounding the square. In the square itself we place four statues that one can climb for an uninterrupted view of the paintings. From that viewpoint, for the first time in years, the living gaze intersects with that of the statue’s. “Theseus saving Hippodamia” comes to life through their eyes, while the living statues reflect on all the things that the statue saw over the years without being able to speak about them.

Program of Station One AIR II

Friday 26 November
11:00 – 17:30 | Collective MASI artwork activation in the square with the community | Victoria square
17:30-20:00 | 4 sculptures presentation in the square, Collectif MASI | Victoria square

Wednesday, 1 December
16:30 | Presentation Collectif MASI | Elpidos 13, Athens
From November 26 until December 3 the Collectif MASI will be in Victoria Square (from 11 AM until 7 PM except on Tuesday 2 PM – 10 PM) activating their artwork by interacting with the community.

Thursday, 2 December
21:00 | Performance “Hippodamia Rising” directed by Melissanthi Spei | Elpidos 13, Athens
The performer Eleni Papaioannou will interact with Melissanthi Spei’s artworks. Starting from the Hippodamia’s myth, the performer will comment on the role of women in contemporary society.

Friday, 3 December
20:00 | Video screening, George Salameh | Elpidos 13, Athens
20:30 | Public Discussion with the artists | Elpidos 13, Athens
The artistic duo Collectif MASI, George Salameh and Melissanthi Spei discuss with the VSP community their experience during the residency program. The discussion will open with a video screening by George Salameh.

Station One AIR 2021 residency for emerging artists focuses on Johannes Pfuhl’s neoclassical sculpture of Hippodamia in Victoria Square. Through their projects, resident artists engaged the Square as a potential locus for intercultural exchange and community building and explored methodologies for using contentious monuments and public art to facilitate consideration and conversation across diverse communities about history, identity, and belonging.

The residency program explores the common ground that emerges when identities come to be viewed as ever-evolving and dynamic and to strengthen community through cross-cultural exchange and artistic production. Station One AIR 2021 is a collaboration between Victoria Square Project and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Public Humanities Initiative (SNFPHI) at Columbia University, supported byCounterpoints Arts and Outset Contemporary Art Fund Greece.

*Madlen Anipsitaki is SNF ARTWORKS Fellow (visual arts)